Sunroof Headliner Replacement

[Gerta318is]

Hey folks ... seen several DIY removal instructions for the headliner panel on the sunroof.  I'd love to know the trick(s) for installing a new one and I'd even be willing to put together a modest how-to ... Thoughts from other more experienced board members?

[DesktopDave]

I had to take mine completely apart to get the headliner panel out.  Crank the sunroof halfway back to expose the front edge of the headliner.

The inner panel clips to the sunroof panel about 2"-3" behind the front edge.  There are six little spring clips IIRC, but it's easy to scratch the sunroof panel or bend the front of the panel frame prying them out.  I used a taped screwdriver since I won't see it again...but that did some damage. I'd advise a trip clip puller or something plastic.

You'll be able to slide the whole inner panel back.  I then removed the six torx mounting screws (with a long flex screwdriver & bit) and pulled the metal sunroof panel out, then slid the fabric panel forward.  It has these two long arms on the side that clip to a lateral slider.  These can be carefully pried off & the whole thing can then be removed.  You'l need some fabric glue to put the new fabric cover on.

If you want the gear box or cables, then you have a lot of little screws to get out.  There are two cleverly hidden screws in the front of the sunroof opening holding up the headliner panel.  The forward trim plate (in the sunroof opening) must to be removed to access them.

Re-aligning the sunroof isn't fun.  Here's a good DIY.  I'm told it should be 1mm high in the rear and 1mm low in the front.

[Gerta318is]

Dave,

Thanks.  I pulled the arms to the slider off the slider versus off the frame of the sunroof panel.  [expletive]!  So I think that what I am going to do is pull the whole panel as you suggested above and see if the lateral slider is broken.  

Live and learn I guess.  Thanks for your help with this!  I'll put pictures up, etc ... The funny thing is the replacement panel sitting in my garage does not have the holes for the rivets for the slider arms / lateral rain gutter panel.  The replacement is more involved than a simple pop on pop off ... see the real oem diagram below:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=AF93&mospid=47305&btnr=54_0128&hg=54&fg=05

[DesktopDave]

I had just found a spare panel to take pics, but you beat me to it.

I noted that the fabric wraps under the rivet that secures the slider arm.  Silly design.  I have to take mine apart again too, one of my riser blocks cracked & I'm going to put a power unit in as well.

[Gerta318is]

yeah, it wont be for a couple of days ... maybe next weekend if the weather holds.  I'll probably end up ordering new parts from Blunttech .com ... It frustrates me that I messed it up and now have to replace it!  So many other little things to fix or make straight!

[jaybo]

Hey all, I'm trying to replace the cables on my sunroof. I cranked the roof halfway back and unfastened the liner clips, but couldn't get the sunroof to close. You have to close it to push the liner back, to expose the sunroof bolts right? Am I missing something here?
Thanks!
Jay

[DesktopDave]

Yes, you're doing it right.  You're not missing anything.   I slide the liner back first then crank the sunroof closed.  It's even easier to get at those little hex screws when the sunroof is in the 'vent' position.  Sometimes the sunroof hangs up on the liner panel or jams on the track.

[jaybo]

Yes, you're doing it right.  You're not missing anything.   I slide the liner back first then crank the sunroof closed.  It's even easier to get at those little hex screws when the sunroof is in the 'vent' position.  Sometimes the sunroof hangs up on the liner panel or jams on the track.

Thanks Dave, When I slide the liner back it feels like it's hanging up on something inside the roof, and it starts to bend...also the sunroof won't close completely. This could be because one side has a broken cable, but I just help it move fwd & aft.  Hmmm, I'll try again with more patience...

[DesktopDave]

Might be that the cable is out of the track, blocking it.  Could also be the metal sunroof panel is too low in one corner and snagging the back of the liner.

I'm not 100% sure, but if you can't do it the conventional way you might be able to crank the roof all the way back, then remove the forward half of the track guides.  Then crank it forward again, pull the panel it up & out.  Crank it back once more and you'll be able to unscrew it all above the roof of the car.

You also might have a loose connector from the liner panel to the crossbar/rear drain channel.  It's #12 "rain gutter" in this RealOEM diagram.  The panel has two arms (#9) that snap into the channel bar with fragile plastic clips (#14).  That channel bar crosses the rear of the opening and provides drainage for the rear of the sunroof when it's closed.  If one of them fell off it'll hang up, not being able to go back or forward.

[jaybo]

That makes sense! The right arm has broken off the slider, so the liner is probably getting hung up on the right rear side.
Thanks for the help!